Probation Parole Officer

State of Montana•Billings, MT

About The Position

The Montana Department of Corrections is hiring a Probation and Parole Officer in Billings, Montana. Guided by the Department’s mission of accountability, rehabilitation, and empowerment, the officer manages and supervises a caseload of 80–100 offenders, promotes public safety, and encourages positive change. The role balances social-work and law-enforcement responsibilities and involves cooperation with the public and criminal justice agencies. The officer conducts pre-sentence investigations and prepares written reports with recommendations to the District Court and Parole Board regarding placement, rehabilitation and treatment plans, probation conditions, incarceration, and appropriate security level. Officers refer offenders to suitable community resources and programs, use risk and needs assessments and department supervision standards, and monitor compliance and progress. They investigate alleged probation or parole violations, arrest and detain violators, and testify in court and information hearings. The position involves responding to hostile or physically threatening situations. Officers may use Oleoresin Capsicum spray and firearms and carry handcuffs. Work schedules may vary and include nights and weekends; officers may be called back at any hour and must be available 24/7 when called upon to assist a DOC facility or law enforcement agency. The job may require physical arrests and self-defense in high-risk situations, travel up to 10% of the time in addition to training travel, and POST Basic Certification following academy training and one year of employment.

Requirements

A college degree in a related field, such as criminology, psychology, social work, sociology, or guidance and counseling, and formal training in behavioral sciences; exceptions require department approval.
Related work experience in corrections/detention, criminology, education, medicine, psychiatry, psychology, law, law enforcement, social work, sociology, psychiatric nursing, or guidance and counseling may substitute for education at a rate of one year of experience for nine months of formal education, subject to department approval.
Meet POST certification eligibility requirements: be a U.S. citizen; be at least 18 years old; submit fingerprints for a criminal-history search; have no conviction for a crime punishable by imprisonment in a federal or state penitentiary; be of good moral character as determined by a background screen; be a high school graduate or have a GED or equivalent; and possess or be eligible for a valid Montana driver’s license.
Complete training at the Montana Law Enforcement Academy and successfully complete one year of employment with the Department of Corrections to obtain POST Basic Certification.
Submit a cover letter, resume, and State of Montana Application.
Meet the stated eligibility restrictions related to firearm possession, domestic-violence convictions or protection orders, and disqualifying sexual-abuse conduct under the Prison Rape Elimination Act.

Responsibilities

Supervise and counsel a caseload of 80–100 offenders while balancing social-work and law-enforcement duties.
Cooperate with the public and criminal justice system and solicit relevant information.
Conduct pre-sentence investigations and prepare written reports with placement, treatment, rehabilitation, probation, and incarceration recommendations for the District Court and Parole Board.
Refer offenders to appropriate resources and programs using supervision standards, risk and needs assessments, and knowledge of state and community resources.
Monitor offenders’ progress and compliance with supervision requirements.
Investigate alleged probation or parole violations.
Arrest and detain violators and testify in district court and information hearings concerning sentencing or revocation.
Respond to hostile or physically threatening situations and perform arrests or self-defense in high-risk scenarios.
Be available to assist DOC facilities or law enforcement agencies when called upon.